Our IT works. But is it working well? - Try our New Online Health Check
Why a quiet helpdesk doesn’t always give you the full picture.
You arrive at work, and everyone can log in. Unfortunately, a plethora of emails arrive. Files open. There haven’t been any major problems for a while. It’s reasonable and normal to assume your IT is in good shape.
For many businesses, that may well be true. But the absence of obvious problems only tells you part of the story.
It can be difficult to know the exact workings and status of some of the tools, processes and systems you rely on most, e.g. backups, security updates, access controls and business continuity.
A useful question to ask yourself is how much of your confidence comes from knowing these things are being checked, and how much comes from assuming they are?
When “it’s working” becomes the measure
Most business owners and managers have neither the time nor the inclination to inspect their technology. They need it to support their people and keep the business moving.
When something breaks, it gets attention. When everything seems fine, IT naturally slips down the priority list.
Over time, this can create a gap between how well you believe your IT is managed and what you can confidently confirm is safe, secure and robust. A backup process set up several years ago might still be running. But has it kept pace with new systems, different working arrangements and a growing volume of information? Has it actually been tested?
The same applies to your wider technology environment. What worked for ten people in one office may need reviewing when you have twenty-five people working across several locations.
Confidence comes from asking a few useful questions, and you don’t need to become an IT expert to get a clearer picture.
Take backups. Knowing that they run every night is reassuring. Knowing that someone monitors them and has successfully tested restoring your data gives you a stronger basis for that confidence.
Or consider remote working. Staff being able to work from home occasionally is useful. Understanding whether everyone could continue working if the office became unavailable tells you more about business continuity.
Security deserves the same practical approach. Having antivirus installed is a starting point. Understanding which devices it covers, who manages it and how problems are flagged helps you assess the protection you actually have, not the head in the sand we have paid for something approach.
These questions may confirm that your arrangements are sound. They may also reveal something small that would benefit from attention.
Give yourself credit for what’s already working.
An IT review should recognise good decisions as well as identify improvements; after all, we need to celebrate the things we get right.
Perhaps your staff receive occasional cyber awareness training. Fantastic! That is a foundation to build on. Perhaps backups are managed but need better monitoring. There is already a process in place that can be strengthened.
The aim is to understand where you stand and decide what deserves attention. Some recommendations may involve a change. Others may simply involve asking your existing provider to explain or verify an arrangement.
Get a clearer picture with Red Maple’s free IT Health Check
Red Maple’s free online IT Health Check gives you a practical starting point.
It asks about your security controls, backups, business continuity, and technology environment, then provides personalised feedback that recognises existing strengths and highlights areas worth reviewing.
You don’t need all the technical answers. If you’re unsure about something, that can help identify what to clarify with the people managing your IT.
It’s an initial guide rather than a formal technical audit, designed to help you have a more informed conversation about your technology.
You may discover that your confidence is well placed. You may find a few sensible improvements. Either way, you’ll have a clearer basis for deciding what comes next.
